Jeremiah 31:18-21

English Standard Version

¹⁸I have heard ^(A)Ephraim grieving,
‘You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined,
    like an untrained calf;
^(B)bring me back that I may be restored,
    for you are the Lord my God.
¹⁹For after ^(C)I had turned away, I relented,
    and after I was instructed, ^(D)I struck my thigh;
^(E)I was ashamed, and I was confounded,
    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’
²⁰^(F)Is Ephraim my dear son?
    ^(G)Is he my darling child?
For as often as I speak against him,
    I do remember him still.
^(H)Therefore my heart^[a] yearns for him;
    I will surely have mercy on him,
declares the Lord.

²¹^(I)“Set up road markers for yourself;
    make yourself guideposts;
^(J)consider well the highway,
    ^(K)the road by which you went.
Return, O virgin Israel,
    return to these your cities.